Rotary gas-engine.



No. 793,263. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905', F. X. ATZBERGER.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

- APPLIOATION FILED we. 5, 1904..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w M 2 w N0. 793,263. PATBNTED JUNE 27, 1905.

F. X. ATZBERGER. I

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

8 BHEETSSHEET 3.

F. X. AI'ZBERGBR.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1904.

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Patented June 27, 1905.

- NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ X. ATZBERGER, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

ROTARY GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793.263, dated. June 27, 1905.

Application filed August 5, 1904. Serial No. 219,600.

To aZZ 2071 0111 it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ X. ILXTZBERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rotary gas engine or turbine more particularly adapted for propelling motor-vehicles, though it may also be used for other purposes.

The engine is economical, may be readily reversed, and automatically regulates the volume of the charge to be exploded.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a horizontal section, partly broken away, of my improved gas-engine; Fig. 2, a plan, partly in section, thereof, the parts being shown in the same position as in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan of the speed-regulator; Fig. 4:, a section on line 1 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a side view, partly in section, of the engine, showing it applied to the traction-wheel of an automobile; Fig. 6, an enlarged cross-section on line 6 6,Fig. 1; T, a side view of the slide-valve; Fig. 8, a cross-section on line 8 8, Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a detail of the mixing-chamber and adjoining parts; Fig. 10, a detail section through one of the valve-plugs, showing it in its central position; and Fig. 11, a detail of the brake.

The letter (4 represents the cylinder of a rotary gas engine or turbine, within which is mounted upon shaft!) a rotary piston c. This piston is provided at its periphery with a number of pockets or compartments 0, separated from one another by partitions or blades 0 Cylinder a is adapted to communicate with two pail of explosion-chambers (Z (Z' and e e, arranged diametrically opposite each other. The chambers (ZaZ are separated from each other by an intervening partition (Wand from cylinder (1 by a curved plate (1", which tapers toward both ends. Between the ends of plate (Z and the outer diverging walls (1 (Z of chambers (Z (1' there are formed two gasports (5" (Z The plate (Z forms a guide for slide-valvesff", adapted to close ports (Z (Z respectively. These valves are provided with inclined ends f f", which are parallel to the walls (Z (1. In similar manner chambers a e are provided with an intervening partition 0 a tapering plate 8, diverging outer wallse gas-ports a a and slide-valves g g, having inclined ends 7 \Vithin an opening ot'lpartition (Z is mounted a rotary valve-plug 11 provided with a recess h and an upper hollow stem if, Fig. 10. The plug la. is so constructed that its recess it is by a perforation (Z in permanent communication with a mixing-chamber i. In like manner partition is provided with a valveplug j, having recess j, and an upper hollow stem j the recess j communicating by perforation (2 with a mixing-chamber it. The means for providing the mixing-chamber with the elements that constitute the explosive charge, such as gasolene and compressed air, will be hereinafter described. The relative position of the plugs and slide-valves is such that if the explosive charge is admitted into the diametrically opposite chambers 11 cslidevalves f g are opened, while slide-valvesf g are closed, Fig. 1. If the explosive charges contained within chambers d a are exploded in manner hereinafter described, they will produce a pair of gas-jets that pass through ports (1 Hand impinge against piston-blades 0*. Thus the gas-jets act upon piston c in such a manner as to produce a rotation of the same in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 1. By providing two diametrically opposite gas-jets the engine is balanced and friction of shaft 7) is reduced. If it is desired to reverse the engine, the plugs ll, j are turned in the direction of the arrows C, Fig. 1, so as to establish communication between the mixing-chambers He and explosion-chambers d e. Simultaneously valves f are opened, while valves f g are closed. The explosions will new force gas-jets through ports (Z 0 against pistonblades 0 so as to cause a rotation of the piston in the direction of the arrow B, Fig. 1.

In order to simultaneously operate the plugs and valves, I have devised the following construction, though other constructions may be used for the same purpose: Upon the hollow stem It of plug 71,, that projects beyond chambers (Z d, is loosely mounted a cam 72", which is adapted to oscillate through an angle of ninety degrees. Between cam if and plug h means are provided for imparting a rotation to plug it opposite to that of cam If. These means are shown to consist of a gear-wheel if, fast on stem 5 and meshing into a gear-wheel If. To gear-wheel if is rigidly connected 2. gear-wheel if, that meshes into the internal toothed rim if of cam if. The dimensions of the gear-wheels are such that while cam k makes a rotation of ninety degrees the plug will make a like rotation. In like manner stem 1' is provided with a cam while plug and cam 3' are connected by a reversinggear of the construction above described. (Not shown.)

Above cylinder (0 there is loosely mounted upon a stud Z a starting and reversing lever L, having a hub Z and a pair of diametricallyplaced arms Z Z. These arms are provided with \I-shaped slots F Z adapted to engage pins [L5 f, mounted upon arms h f of cams If j respectively. The lever L has a third slotted arm Z, the slot Z of which is engaged by a pin Z of a shipping-rod Z which may be operated in suitable manner. The size and shape of the slots Z* Z are such that a rotation of the lever L through ninety degrees will likewise cause the earns f to rotate through the same angle. The cams ifj are provided with convex sections 71, j and a pair of concave sections 72. it and j respectively. Cam k is engaged by two arms on m, rigidly mounted upon spindles m m The spindle m passes through the upper wall of chamber (Z and carries at its lower end a lever 172*, that engages a corresponding recess f of slidevalve f, Figs. 1 and 6. The spindle m passes through the upper wall of chamber CZ and carries at its lower end a lever m that engages a recess f of slide-valve f. In like manner the cam 1' is engaged by two arms n n, the spindles n n of which are provided with levers a of, engaging recesses g* g of valves g g, respectively. Arms m m are held against cam 703 by springs m m while arms n n are held against cam 1' by springs Figs. 1 and 2 show the parts in the position for rotating piston c in the direction of arrow A, Fig. 1. It will be seen that arms m n engage the concave sections 7L7 of cams 7L while the arms 77?. n engage the convex cam-sections 711 Owing to the position of arms on m n n slide-valves f g are opened, slide-valves f g are closed, and the explosive charge is admitted through recesses 7L 7" of plugs 7L 7' into explosion-chambers (Z 6, respectively. If it is desired to reverse the engine, shipping-rod Z is moved to the right, Fig. 2, to turn the leverLthrough ninety degrees. This will cause the cams h to be turned through a like angle in the direction of the arrows D, Fig. 2. Plugs h j are thus rotated by the reversing-gear above described in the direction of the arrows C, Fig. 1, to establish communication between mixing-chambers i 70 and explosion-chambers cl 6, respectively, while the chambers e f are shut off! Simultaneously with the rotation of plugs h j the slide-valves ff 9 9 have altered their position, because arms m n will now contact with the convex sections h j of cams k to close valves f g. At the same time the arms m n, influenced by their springs m n, have entered the concave sections A j of cams k 1, thereby openingvalves f g. The explosions now taking place will rotate the piston in the reverse direction. After the gases have acted upon the blades 0 they escape through exhausts a a of cylinder a. To stop the engine, the lever L is brought into its central position, so as to be in alinernent with the cams if f. In this position the arms m m n n rest against the convex sections h j of cams 5. 1' so that all the four slide-valves f f g' g are closed.

The means for supplying gas, gasolene, &c. and compressed air to the mixing-chambers may be of any suitable construction. I have shown the gas-engine applied to the tractionwheel of an automobile, Fig. 5, which is adapted to operate the air and gas pumps in the following manner: Upon axle 0 of tractionwheel 0 is mounted a worm-wheel 0 that is in engagement with a worm .7), fast on shaft 6 of piston 0. Upon axle 0 are further mounted a pair of eccentrics 0 0, of which the eccentric 0 operates the plunger q of an airpump q, while the eccentric 0 operates the plunger r of a gasolene-pump r. The pump (1 delivers the air from a pipe g communicating with an auxiliary pump hereinafter described, toa pipe Q3, that communicates with a pair of coils q placed opposite the exhausts a a, respectively, to preheat the compressed air. From coils q a the heated air passes through pipes g and g g to a pair of inlet-pipes q Q12. To pipe (1 is connected a nozzle Q13, opening into mixing-chamber 2',

while to pipe Q12 is connected a nozzle opening into mixing-chamber it). The pipes q q" are provided with back-pressure valves Q15 (1 respectively. The pump rreceives the gasolene, &c., from a suitable reservoir (not shown) by pipe r and delivers it through pipe r to the cylinder of an auxiliary gasolenepump rt. From pump r the gasolene is led by pipes r r to gas-nozzles 1*, contained Within the compressed-air nozzles Q13 q, respectively. Pipes r 7 are also provided with back-pressure valves 1* 1" To insure a thorough mixing of the explosive charge, I provide screens it between the mixing-chambers 2' 70 and the openings 01 8 6 respectively.

The mixture within the explosion-chambers may be ignited by any suitable device, which does not form part of my invention. I have shown electric igniters s s of Wellknown, construction, which are operated in the usual manner, such igniters being inserted through the hollow stems if into the recesses /i y" of plugs b j.

The engine works in such a manner that gasolene and compressed air are permanently fed into the explosion -chambers. Vithin these chambers the charge is exploded at short intervals say once during each rotation of the piston. The moment an explosion takes place gas-jets are forced through the ports against the blades of the piston to rotate the latter. During the explosion the inflow of air and gasolene is stopped by the automatically-closingback-pressurevalves. In order to insure a complete consumption of the explosive mixture, 1 have provided additional compressed-air-supply pipes q q and 1 If communicating with pipes 1 11 respectively, and opening into explosion-chambers (Z ([0 c at a distance from the gas-entrance.

The speed of the engine is regulated in the following manner: Upon shaft 1/ are mounted beneath cylinder (4 a pair of disks 6 t, of which disk t is provided with a hub i encircled by a coiled endless spring t", Fig. 3. A series of centrifugal rollers t", having axles t, are placed between disks ft. The axles 15 turn in forked bearings 1, adapted to move in corresponding radial slits t z of disks Z t and connected to spring t" by wires or rods 25". The axles f pass through slits Z If of disks z z" in order to prevent lateral displacement of the rollers. Thus it will be seen that the rollers Z will move radially outward against the action of spring Z when the engine is running, the distance of displacement depending upon the speed of the engine. Intermediate the disks t z" and near their periphery enter a pair of straps a r, which are adapted to be engaged by the rollers t. The ends of straps a are connected to levers u M2 of spindles a" u". The spindle 1/ projects through the bottom of explosion-chamber (l and is provided at its upper end with a lever it", having a pin 2!, Figs. 6 to 8. The lever 2f is free to swing within a corresponding slot f" of slide-valve f, while the pin u" engages a slot of the valve. As the construction of the mechanism for operating the valves ff 9 g is alike, only that for operating valve f is shown in Figs. 6, T, and 8. Thus the spindle u passes through the bottom of explosion-chamber c and inliuences valve g in the same manner as described in relation to valve f. When the engine runs too fast, the rollers 2 will move radially outward to correspondingly displace strap 1/. By this action the spindles 40 a will be turned in the direction of the arrows E, Figs. 3 and 8. This rotation will cause an outward movement of slide-valves f g, so as to reduce the area of the ports d e and correspondingly diminish the volume of the gas-jet blowing against blades 0 In like manner the ends of strap r are connected to levers w r of spindles r 1. The mechanism described for setting valves f' is duplicated for valves f r so that if the engine when reversed runs too fast the rollers will displace strap r, and thus reduce the area of ports (Z (2 In order to prevent the pressure within the explosion-chambers from becoming excessive after the slide-valves have been partly closed, I have provided a pair of cylinders w w, which communicate at their bottom by pipes W 00 with the mixing-chambers 1' K, respectively. \Vithin cylinder is fitted a piston w", influenced by a spring #1 The piston-rod '20 of piston o engages a pair of levers 1/ w. The lever 2r is connected to a three-way cock of air-pipe 1 while the lever w is connected to a three-way cock 1-" of gasolene-pipe r'". If the pressure in the mixing-chamber '1' becomes excessive, it will raise piston w" against action of spring w to partially turn cocks 1f 1'. By the turning of the three-way cock 0' part of the air will escape into the atmosphere, while byturning the three-way cock 1 part of the gasolene delivered through pipe r" will enter a pipe r, to be reconveyed to the gas-reservoir. (Not shown.) In like manner cylinder w is provided with a piston 20", influenced by a spring w and having a piston-rodeo, that engageslevers w w. Lever w is connected to a three-way cock (f of airpipe (1' while lever v is connected to a threeway cock 1- of gasolene-pipe 1-. .l f, therefore, the pressure in mixing-chainber Z: becomes excessive, air will partly escape through three-way cock 1;, while the gasolene will be partly returned to the reservoir through pipe 1*. Should the pressure in the mixing-chamber grow abnormally great, the pistons 1/:"10'" will be lifted to such an extent as to uncover openings 11' 10 of cylinders '10 w, so that the mixture may escape into the open air.

In order to start the engine before the pumps 1 and r are in action, I have provided an auxiliary air-pu mp (1 and an auxiliary gas-pump rt Air-pump has a piston which is connected by forked link to arm The pump if communicates with pipe (1 of pump 1 so that during the normal operation the air drawn by pump (7 passes through pump 1 so that the latter is always charged with air. The auxiliary gas-pump 1" is provided with a piston r, which is by link connected to an arm of lever L. During the normal operation of the engine the gasolene passes through pump a", as already stated, so that the latter is always charged with gasolene. Before starting the engine the lever L is in its central position, while the pistons If 0' assume their extreme outward position. It now the rod 1" is shifted to either of its end positions in order to start the engine in one or the other direction, gasolcne and air will be simultaneously compressed by the advancing pistons 1f 2', respectively, so that sufficient pressure is created for starting the engine.

To automatically set a brake after the engine has been stopped, I may use the construction shown in Figs. 1, 5, 10, and 11. Plugs h and j are provided with perforations h" j, which are adapted to register with pipes w y when plugs /t j are in their central position. Pipes m y open into a cylinder 2, having a piston z influenced by a spring 2 The pistonrod 2 of piston .2 engages a brake-lever .2, fulcrumed at 2 to the frame of the engine. To lever 2* are connected at 2 and .2 the ends of a pair of brake-straps e a, that engage a brake disk 5 of shaft 6. It will be seen that after the lever L has been brought into its central position the explosion-chambers will through openings It 1' communicate with pipes 00 3 so that the pressure within the eX- plosion-chambers after the slide-valves have been closed will be transmitted to cylinder .2 in order to depress piston 2, Fig. 11, and set the brake. By opening a valve 2 of cylinder 2 the brake may be released.

What I claim is- 1. In a rotary gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder with a bladed piston, a pair of explosion-chambers communicating with the cylinder, a mixing-chamber, a recessed valveplug adapted to establish communication between the miXing-chamber and either one of the explosion-chambers, and an igniter within the valve-plug recess, substantially as specivalve-plug mounted therein, an igniter within the valve-plug recess, a mixing-chamber, valves within the explosion-chambers and controlling the ports, and means for simultaneously setting the valve-plug and valves, substantially as specified.

4:. In a rotary gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder with a bladed piston, a pair of explosion-chambers communicating with the cylinder, a partition between the explosionchambers, a recessed valve-plug mounted therein, a mixing-chamber, valves controlling communication between the explosion-chambers and the cylinder, a cam operatively connected to the valve-plug, and arms engaging the cam and operatively connected to the lastmentioned valves, substantially as specified.

5. In a rotary gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder with a bladed piston, a pair of explosion-chambers communicating with the cylinder, a mixing-chamber adapted to be connected with either of the explosion-chambers, valves controlling communication between the explosion-chambers and the cylinder, a strap operatively connected to the valves, and a spring-influenced centrifugal roller adapted to engage the strap, substantially as specified.

6. In a rotary gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder with a bladed piston, a pair of explosion-chambers communicating with the cylinder, a mixing-chamber adapted to be connected .with either of the explosion-chambers, valves controlling communication between the explosion chambers and the cylinder, a strap operatively connected to the valves, a centrifugal roller adapted to engage the strap, and a spring-influenced slidable bearing in which the roller is journaled, substantially as specified.

7. In a rotary gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder with a bladed piston, a pair of explosion-chambers communicating with the cylinder, a partition between the explosionchambers, a recessed valve plug mounted therein, a mixing-chamber, valves controlling communication between the explosion-chambers and the cylinder, means for operating the valve-plug and the last-mentioned valves, a cylinder communicating with the mixingchamber, an inclosed spring-influenced piston, and a three-way air and gas cock operatively connected to said piston, substantially as specified.

8. In a rotary gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder with a bladed piston, a pair of explosion-chambers communicating with the cylinder, a partition between the explosionchambers, a recessed valve plug mounted therein, a mixing-chamber, valves controlling communication between the explosion-chambers and the cylinder, means for operating v the valve-plug and the last-mentioned valves, a cylinder adapted to communicate with the recessed valve-plug, an inclosed spring-influenced piston, a brake strap operatively connected thereto, and a brake-disk engaged by the strap, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at New York city, (Manhattan,) New York, this 3d day of August, 1904.

FRANZ X. ATZBERGER. W'itnesses:

CHARLES KERN, Jos. HoRvA'rH. 

